Sunday, January 31, 2016

So Much Goodness!

First off hi everyone! It's been two weeks since my last post but I have a lot to make up for it! So saddle up for the ride!

First off this is my 100th blog post! So to celebrate I'm having a giveaway! I'm giving away a chart from Tilton Crafts. HAEDs get a lot of love but not too many people I see stitch Tiltons so it's time to spread the love :).

The rules are: you have to be a follower. You have to comment on this post that you want to be entered. And you have to begin it sometime this year. I'm being a bit selfish on this one lol I like watching big pieces progressing :)

I've made progress on three pieces this post! Including a new start 😳

First up is Paradise:

Last time:

This time I just finished up another page:

I really wanted to have a page finish on this before I posted so that's what took so long. The colors look washed out but that's because it's now night and there have been storms all day so no chance to take a picture. But the colors are starting to mute a bit too before we start getting into the deep blues. And yes that is some purple we see. I got to go to my floss stash finally and pull out several new colors. Yay! We will see the first official blues when I finish filling in the mountains. And on that note see the bright yellow just to the left of the purple mountain? That's the last of it! No more 444 for this girl! I used about a skein and a half in this piece so I'm happy to say that's the end of it! I think I finished off another couple too but that's the only one I know of for sure.

So what's my new start and why did I start it when I said I wouldn't?

Yep I joined the HAED challenge. The first one had to be done before March and we had to stitch 1000 stitches in a checkerboard/diagonal pattern. This is a year long challenge with 6 different components. It's offered on the HAED Facebook page and there's still time to sign up. I can say that it was interesting to stitch this way but definitely something I won't do again.

I chose to do a new start because at least one challenge will be tent stitching and on this new piece in going to try doing both tent and full cross on the same piece. The background will be rented and the design full.

The design is the exclusive chart I got from Brigid Ashwood's calendar Kickstarter I talked about several months ago. I talked to Michele and she said it counted since they charted it.

This is the design and I have the part in the middle of his forehead and above his left eye done. It's the exact middle.

I did an interesting dye for this chart.

It's darker in real life. The colors correspond to the symbols around the frame. The red ended up bleeding a bit but they should be covered by stitching so I'm not worried. I'm excited to see how this one ends up.

Lastly I've made a bit more progress on Halloween Green.

Last time:

Now:

Not much but I only work on it when I'm away doing laundry or something.

On the personal front things are going well. My hubby just got offered a permanent position at work! No details yet because he had to talk to HR first but it couldn't have come at a better time. Our lease is up in the middle of March so once we know how much he will be making we can start looking for a new place and get our things out of storage. As for me I've already finished a semester of school except for one last bit in my last class. I'll finish it tomorrow hopefully. I started school in December so if everything goes well I can start my student teaching next January. As it so happens my little cousin (who paradise is for) will be starting hers then too although we're in different states and she's going for her bachelors. Still it'll be fun. Tutoring is going well too other than having some issues with motivating kids to work.

Oh well hubby will be gone next weekend so I'll have s nice long stitchy weekend ahead. And after that it's Presidents' Day weekend I'm not sure if we're going away for the weekend or not but I have 4 days off so I'm excited! I'm already spoiled by the school schedule lol.

26 comments:

You weren't kidding! SO MUCH GOODNESS! I had just written those very words on another blog moments before opening yours to read...this makes me laugh so THANK YOU!

I would love to be entered in your 100th blog drawing and I thought I was a follower but clicked the follower button to make sure and turns out I just have you on a reading list...not anymore!!

I hope your husband gets the pay he deserves and congrats on his new job! Hope you all find a nice home to put all of your stuff in! I know how important that part is...for now EVERYTHING is so good :D

Wow!! Wow!! And wow!! Goodness me! You have indeed been rather busy with your needle! Paradise is looking wonderful and gosh that is coming together quickly now. Your new start with the FB group is rather interesting... Lovely design the wolves are too.I have a HAED and boy does it intimidate me! I only have the one, ha ha I call it my life time project! One day I will complete it!Awesome congratulations on 100 blog posts!! I adore the blogging community. I am curious about Tilton Crafts.... not heard of them! I will google them after I have posted here. How awesome that your sharing this company, I love looking at new companies and their designs, thank you! And awesome news for your husband, I hope everything works out for you both.Smiles :)

Wow! Lots of fun stuff to read about here. Yes please enter me in the drawing. Good luck everyone who enters! I think I've looked into Tilton Crafts but I need to look again. Love your weird HAED diagonal start haha. I just love the fabric you dyed. Too cool!! So glad to see your Halloween WIP too. Great job on everything!! Hope your hubby gets exactly what you guys need.

Wow, lots of progress here to be seen. Your Paradise is coming along great. And that wolf is a very impressive new start. I *love* the fabric you are using for it, very interesting dye colors.Cognacs on your 100th post. And congrats to your husband for getting that permanent job.

Congratulations on your 100th post. It seems like more LOL. Maybe it's all the stitching goodness?Please don't add me to the draw but good luck to everyone else.And there's so much going on in your life, it all sounds rather wonderful!

I agree with Jo, it feels like you have been blogging for much longer! Congratulations on 100 blog posts and the great news about your husband's job.I am so tempted to enter your giveaway as I browsed Tilton Crafts after seeing your post and fell in love with the Always chart straight away! However I have committed to stitching other projects this year so will pass on the giveaway, but may have to buy it for myself!

Wonderful job on getting the challenge complete and congrats on your 100th post! It's clever how you dyed the fabric to match the four coloured medallions on the Bridgid Ashwold piece. Please don't add me to the giveaway draw 'cause I've got plenty to work on already! I need to pull Robber Bridegroom back out and lavish some more attention on it so you can see more progress lol! ;)

Ooo I am tempted by your giveaway. I have a few Tiltons on my wishlist but I have nothing good to stitch them on (can you imagine doing them in-hand? my wrist would break!). So, I will patiently(?) pass. :)

I just love the way you did your dye job for the wolfy piece. That's gonna look great on the colors! :D

Wow, that is a ton of progress and great start on the HAED. I love that you're almost out of the yellows entirely, woohoo! I would like to enter the giveaway, and I was so behind I didn't notice this post. I'll post there too.

New Stitchy Start SAL

Gifted Gorgeousness SAL

My Story

I have a passion for anything crafts but mostly cross stitch, reading and traveling. I'm a bit of a geek and I love when my passions come together. I love nature but hate the sun and being hot. My goals are to enjoy life as much as possible and my dreams are to visit Ireland and have a baby. I tend to tell everything about myself and to be a bit too honest. I am passionate about my beliefs and try to live with no regrets. This is my little corner of the world and welcome to it!